Introduction
Vinod Tawde, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Maharashtra minister, is once again at the center of a political storm, facing new allegations of distributing money to voters just before the assembly elections. Known for his journey from grassroots BJP cadre to senior ministerial roles, Tawde’s political career has been riddled with controversies that risk tarnishing the party’s image. Despite these challenges, he has demonstrated remarkable resilience.
Career Background
Tawde served as the Minister for School and Education under the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in 2014. Early in his ministerial tenure, he faced scrutiny over the legitimacy of his engineering degree from Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth, a university not recognized by the state government. This led to accusations from opposition leaders that he submitted a fraudulent qualification, igniting heated debates in the Maharashtra Assembly.
In response to the outcry, Tawde defended his educational background, asserting that while the course he completed was not government-approved, he enrolled with full knowledge of its status. He explained, “The university started a bridge course for this purpose. I enrolled in the course in 1980 and graduated in 1984. It included part-time study and part-time internship.” Despite acknowledging the lack of governmental recognition, he maintained that he was informed during admission about the program’s status and accepted that reality.
Setbacks and Sidelining
Despite successfully navigating earlier controversies, Tawde’s reputation took further hits due to issues like a controversial contract for a publication awarded to a Marathi publishing house in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. His exclusion from the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections marked a significant sidelining within the BJP. Expressing his disappointment at the decision not to field him from Borivali, which ultimately went to Sunil Rane, Tawde stated, “If I had made any mistakes, I will correct them. If the party made any mistakes, they will address those too. But this is not the time to dwell on it.”
During this period of sidelining, Tawde, however, made a significant comeback by being appointed as the BJP’s national general secretary, which reinvigorated his influence within the party. When asked about his return to state politics in December 2023, Tawde cryptically stated, “No Maharashtra, only Rashtra (Nation).”
Latest Allegations and Incident
Recently, Tawde has found himself at the heart of a new controversy involving allegations of cash-for-votes. Reports have surfaced claiming that he tried to distribute money to voters, with video clips circulating on social media. In one instance, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur alleged that a BJP leader had informed him about Tawde’s supposed plans to distribute cash. This incident has raised serious concerns about Tawde’s political future and could adversely impact his standing within the BJP.
Adding to the turmoil, a dramatic incident unfolded at a hotel in Virar (east) where Tawde was found allegedly in possession of cash more than 17 hours after campaign activities had concluded. BVA party supporters reportedly stormed the hotel and confronted Tawde, during which they flung cash at him. The police intervened and escorted Tawde from the scene, raising further questions about his conduct and the integrity of the electoral process.
Electoral Context
The Nalasopara constituency, where this incident occurred, is currently represented by BVA MLA Kshitij Thakur. In the upcoming elections, a contest is being held between BJP’s Rajan Naik and Congress’s Sandeep Pandey. Despite the BVA’s previous support for Mahayuti with their three MLAs in the 2019 elections, Thakur has criticized Tawde’s presence in Virar after the closure of campaigning.
BVA members alleged that they received information regarding Tawde conducting a meeting at Vivant Hotel in Manvelpada, claiming to have witnessed him distributing money to attendees. Thakur alleged Tawde possessed Rs 5 crore and two diaries containing names of recipients. The BVA has raised concerns about the election code violations, calling for police and election officials to investigate the matter.
Conclusion
As allegations against him grow and political tensions rise, Vinod Tawde’s future in Maharashtra politics hangs in the balance. With the assembly elections approaching, how Tawde navigates these controversies will not only shape his own political trajectory but may also have broader implications for the BJP’s image and strategy moving forward.
